Film dispenser

ABSTRACT

A film dispenser includes a housing configured to receive and hold a roll of film. The housing has a dispensing opening through which a section of film can pass. The housing also has a lid that is movable between an open position where the dispensing opening is open and a closed position in which the dispensing opening is substantially closed. The lid has a film presentation member that is positioned to contact and hold a portion of the film when the lid is in the closed position and to present the portion of film within the dispensing opening for grasping when the lid is moved to the open position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/616,909, filed on Nov. 12, 2009, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a film dispenser. Theinvention is particularly applicable for dispensing portions of clingfilm and it will be convenient to hereinafter disclose the invention inrelation to that exemplary application. However, it is to be appreciatedthat the invention is not limited to that application and could be usedas a dispenser for dispensing portions of various types of film orsheets of material such as cellophane, cling film, foil, grease proofpaper, wrapping paper or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intendedto facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should beappreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admissionthat any of the material referred to was published, known or part of thecommon general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of theapplication.

Films for wrapping food are commonly sold packaged within a disposablecardboard dispensing box made to dispense the film during the lifetimeof the roll of film. The dispensing box usually includes a dispensingopening through which the film is fed and at least one toothed bladepositioned adjacent to or along one edge of the dispensing opening toallow the desired length of film to be cut from the roll of film.

The design of these boxes is generally basic, with the film beingloosely retained within the box allowing the film on the roll to beunrolled and extended over the blade. This basic design isdisadvantageous, because it allows the film to become wrapped around theroll and in relation to cling film, it can become very difficult tolocate the free end of the film for film removal. With plastic clingfilm, the end of the film can also form folds and stick to the film onthe roll.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a film dispenser which canpresent at least a portion of the film from the roll to a user each timethe film dispenser is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a film dispenserthat includes a housing configured to receive and hold a roll of film.The housing has a dispensing opening through which a section of film canpass. The housing also has a lid that is movable between an openposition where the dispensing opening is open and a closed position inwhich the dispensing opening is substantially closed. The lid has a filmpresentation member that is positioned to contact and hold a portion ofthe film when the lid is in the closed position and to present saidportion of film within the dispensing opening for grasping when the lidis moved to the open position.

The film dispenser according to the present invention provides a filmpresentation member that presents a portion of the film, preferably aportion at or proximate to an end or edge section of the film, forgrasping by a user when the lid of the dispenser is moved to the openposition. The film presentation member also preferably engages theportion of film within the dispenser thereby holding the film in placewithin the dispenser when the dispenser opening is closed.

In some instances, the film presentation member holds the film byadhesion. For some films, the film presentation member is able to adhereto a film material without additional adhesive assistance. For example,plastic wrap or another type of cling type film has a pressure sensitiveadhesive property that can be utilised to releasably adhere the plasticwrap to the presentation member. However, other types of films such asbaking paper, foil cellophane, grease proof paper, wrapping paper andthe like have little or no self adhesive properties and will thereforegenerally require assistance to adhere to the presentation member. Insome embodiments the film presentation member of the dispenser thereforeincludes an adhesive section for releasably adhering the portion of filmthereto. The adhesive section provides a section of sticky or otherreleasably adherable substance to assist in adhering a portion of thatfilm to the presentation member.

The adhesive section preferably includes a pressure sensitive adhesive,and more preferably a removable pressure sensitive adhesive so as toform a temporary bond to the portion of film. Pressure sensitiveadhesives (PSAs) form a bond by the application of light pressure tomarry the adhesive with the adhered. The bond forms because the adhesiveis soft enough to flow (i.e. “wet”) the adherend. The bond has strengthbecause the adhesive is hard enough to resist flow when stress isapplied to the bond. In one embodiment, the adhesive section includes asection of double sided adhesive tape, preferably double sided pressuresensitive tape. This type of tape includes a pressure sensitive adhesivecoated onto both sides of a backing material such as paper, plasticfilm, cloth, or metal foil.

The film presentation member can be located in any location where thefilm presentation member can contact and hold a portion of the film whenthe lid is in the closed position. The film presentation member can alsopresent said portion of film for grasping when the lid is in the openposition. In many embodiments this would generally locate the filmpresentation member within the dispensing opening. Preferably, the filmpresentation member extends away from the lid into the dispensingopening when the lid is in the open position, thereby presenting aportion of film at least a small distance away from the lid. Morepreferably, the film presentation member is configured to extend awayfrom an inner surface of the lid and to extend at least partially infront of the roll of film when the lid is in the closed position. Thefilm presentation member is therefore able to extend and contact aportion of film which extends between an edge of the dispensing openingand the roll of film when the lid is moved from the open position to theclosed position. This advantageously can enable a free end of film to bepresented for grasping adjacent to or in a part of the dispensingopening which is most readily accessible to a user of the dispenser.

The film presentation member can have any suitable configuration. Insome embodiments, the film presentation member includes a flange orprojecting member which projects away from an inner surface of the lid.Preferably, the projecting member includes at least one tab projectingaway from an inner surface of the lid. The at least one tab can have anysuitable configuration. However, it is preferable for the at least onetab to be an elongate tab running lengthwise substantially parallel alongitudinal edge of the housing that partly defines the dispensingopening. In some forms, the elongate tab is formed from at least twoplanar portions, a first planar portion connected to the lid and asecond planar portion extending at an angle to the first planar portionin a direction generally away from the dispensing opening.

The dispenser can include a number of different lid configurations. Insome embodiments, the lid is a separate section which is releasablyattachable to the housing in which the roll of film is housed. In otherembodiments, the lid is connected or otherwise attached to the housingin which the roll of film is housed. The lid can be attached to thehousing in any number of ways. In one embodiment, a flexible strip isprovided between the lid and the housing to connect these sections. Inother embodiments, the lid is connected to the housing by a hinge.Preferably, the axis of the hinge lies substantially parallel to thelength of the dispensing opening.

In some embodiments, the lid further includes a releasable locking meansto releasably lock lid in the closed position. Preferably, thereleasable locking means includes at least one element associated withthe lid and at least one cooperating element associated with the housingproximate the dispensing opening. In this respect, the releasablelocking means can include any suitable cooperating fastener device,cooperative locking arrangement or the like. In one form the releasablelocking means includes a cooperating rib and groove type connection. Inanother form, the releasable locking means includes a projection and acooperating opening.

In most applications, a user will want to only use a discrete portion ofthe film from the roll of film. It can therefore be advantageous for thefilm dispenser to further include a cutting unit on which a layer offilm can be cut. The cutting unit can have any suitable configuration,but preferably includes a blade. In some forms, the blade is formed fromat least two separate blades arranged to cooperatively cut the film. Inother embodiments, the blade includes a single elongate blade.Preferably, the blade is located proximate to the dispensing opening.This allows the film to be cut and removed from the roll of film in orproximate the dispensing opening. This location also allows the filmpresentation member to be configured to contact and generally adherethereto a portion of the film between the roll of film and the cuttingunit when the lid is in the closed position, or to a part of the housingin which the blade is mounted or extends. In this respect, when the filmis cut on the blade, the remaining portion of the film connected to theroll of film generally remains attached to the blade. In this case, thefilm then conveniently extends between the roll of film and the bladefor contact by the film presentation means.

In some forms, the blade is integrally formed with the housing. In otherforms, the blade is formed separately, for example as a separateelongate metal blade which is attached the dispenser.

The blade can have any suitable configuration capable of cutting,tearing or otherwise severing the film. In one preferred embodiment, theblade is a saw-toothed blade.

The housing generally has a form suitable for housing a roll of film. Inmost embodiments the housing therefore takes the form of an elongatebox. The elongate box can have a square cross-section, triangularcross-section, generally circular cross-section or the like. The roll offilm can be seated loosely in the housing. However, it is preferable forthe roll of film to have at least one side retaining means for laterallyretaining the roll of film within the housing. In one embodiment, thehousing includes at least one moveable side tab for releasably retainingthe roll of film within housing. In most cases, the roll of film ismounted on a tubular base roll. Preferably, the moveable side tab isconfigured to project into the side of the tubular base roll toreleasably retaining the roll of film within housing. While one moveableside tab could retain the roll of film within housing, it is preferablefor the housing to include two moveable side tabs on opposite sides ofthe housing. The two moveable side tabs can then cooperatively hold theroll of film within housing.

In one preferable form, the housing and the film presentation member areintegrally made from a plastics material. In other forms the housing andthe film presentation member are made from different materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to thefigures of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate particularpreferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a film dispenser according to oneembodiment of the present invention with a lid thereof closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the film dispenser of FIG. 1 with thelid open.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the film dispenser of FIG. 1 withthe lid open and the film contained within the film dispenser engagedwith a cutter of the film dispenser.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the film dispenser of FIG. 1 with thelid open and a roll or film removed from within the film dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a dispenser10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The dispenser10 can be configured to dispense portions of various types of film orsheets of material such as cellophane, cling film, foil, grease proofpaper, wrapping paper or the like. The illustrated dispenser 10 isconfigured to dispense a portion of cling film from a tubular roll ofcling film 11 housed within the dispenser 10.

The illustrated dispenser 10 is provided with a housing 12. The housing12 is generally sized and shaped to accommodate the tubular roll of film11. As shown in FIG. 4, the illustrated roll of film 11 is mounted on atubular base roll 13. The illustrated housing 12 has a generally squarecross-section, but it should be understood that a different shape ofhousing, for example a housing having a circular or oval cross-section,could also be used. The housing 12 includes a roll retention section 14and a lid 16 formed as a one-piece unit preferably of a plasticsmaterial, for example PVC or other similar plastics material which issafe for food contact. The dispenser 10 can be formed using moulding,extrusion or similar techniques, into the desired shape.

Each side 23 of the roll retention section 14 of the housing 12 includesa moveable side tab 23A for releasably retaining the roll of film 11within housing 12. In this respect, each side tab 23A is a generallysemi-circular shaped tab which is cut out from the sides 23 of the rollretention section 14. The tabs 23A have some movement about a top edgewhich integrally connects the tab 23 to the side 23. This top edge isformed of a generally rigid material such as PVC (generally the samematerial so as the majority of the housing 12) to enable the tab toadopt an inwardly projecting position as shown in the figures. Themoveable side tab 23A is configured to project into the side of thetubular base roll 13 to releasably retaining the roll of film 11 withinhousing 12. The two moveable side tabs 23A cooperatively hold the rollof film 11 within the housing 12.

The housing 12 includes a lid 16 which is pivotally connected to theroll retention section 14 through a flexible hinge 18. This hinge 18 canbe made of flexible PVC which can be formed with more rigid PVCgenerally forming the major part of the housing 12. The lid 16 can bemoved about the hinge 18 between an open position (as shown in FIGS. 2and 3) where the front edge 19 of the lid 16 is moved from the frontedge 21 of the roll retention section 14 and a closed position (as shownin FIG. 1) where the front edge 19 of the lid 16 generally engages withthe front edge 21 of the roll retention section 14.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the roll retention section 14 and the lid 16further include a releasable locking means in the form of cooperatingtabs 25A and openings 25B respectively. The tabs 25A and the openings25B cooperate proximate the dispensing opening to releasably lock thefront edge 19 of the lid 16 to the front edge 21 of the roll retentionsection 14 when the lid 16 is in the closed position. In the illustratedembodiments, the lid 16 includes two end flanges 27 each having aseparate opening 25B. Each opening 25B cooperate with one of twocorrespondingly positioned inwardly projecting tabs 25A located on aninner surface of the roll retention section 14.

A dispensing opening 20 is formed when the lid 16 is moved to the openposition. The dispensing opening 20 is used to pass a section of film 22from the roll of film 11 outside the housing 12. The dispensing opening20 is closed when the lid 16 is moved to the closed position. Thedispensing opening 20 is wide enough so that at least one layer of thefilm 11 to be dispensed can be passed through, and is long enough sothat the full width of film 11 can also be passed through withoutwrinkling or folding.

The lid 16 also includes a film presentation member 24 formed as acentrally located (relative to the longitudinal length of the housing12) downwardly extending tab. The film presentation member 24 isconfigured to contact and hold, in this case by adhesion, a portion ofthe film 22 when the lid 16 is in the closed position. The filmpresentation member 24 is also configured to present said portion offilm 22 to a user for grasping when the lid 16 is moved to the openposition. In addition, the film presentation member 22 also engages theportion of film 22 within the housing 12 thereby holding that portion offilm 22 in place within the dispenser 10 when the lid 16 is moved to theclosed position.

The illustrated film presentation member 24 is an integrally formedelongate tab positioned proximate the dispensing opening 20 runninggenerally lengthwise substantially parallel to the dispensing opening20. As best shown in FIG. 3, the film presentation member 24 is formedfrom two planar portions, a first planar portion 24A connected to thelid and a second planar portion 24B extending at an angle to the firstplanar portion 24A in a direction generally away from the dispensingopening 20. When the lid 16 is in the open position, the filmpresentation member 24 extends away from an inner surface of the lid 16into the dispensing opening 20 thereby presenting a portion of film atleast a small distance away from the lid 16. When in the closedposition, the film presentation member 24 is configured to extend atleast partially in front of the roll of film 11 to enable filmpresentation member 24 to contact a piece of film 22 laterally extendingbetween a longitudinal edge of the roll retention section 14 and theroll of film 11 when the lid 16 is moved from the open position to theclosed position.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the illustrated film presentation member 24includes a pressure sensitive adhesive element 28 for releasablyadhering the portion of film 22 thereto. The adhesive element 28includes a section of sticky or other releasably adherable substance toassist in adhering a portion of that film to the presentation member 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front edge 21 of the roll retentionsection 14 also includes an elongate blade 30 on which a layer of filmcan be cut. In the illustrated embodiment, the blade 30 is integrallyformed with the housing 12. However, it should be appreciated that theblade 30 can be formed separately in other embodiments, for example asan elongate metal blade which is then attached the dispenser 10.

The illustrated blade 30 is an elongate rib generally running the lengthof the dispensing opening 20, having an upper saw-toothed shaped cuttingedge 32. The blade 30 allows the film to be cut and removed from theroll of film 11 in or proximate the dispensing opening 20. With plasticcling film, the blade 30 is also used to contact and generally adherethereto a portion of the film 22 between the roll of film 11 and theblade 30 once a section of film is removed from the blade 30 aftercutting. In this respect, when the portion film 22 is cut on the blade30, the remaining portion of the film 22 connected to the roll of film11 generally remains attached to the blade 30. The film 22 thengenerally extends between the roll of film 11 and the blade 30.

In use, the dispenser 10 is initially in the closed position, as shownin FIG. 1. A user can then open the lid 16 to open the dispensingopening 20. When initially opened, an end portion of the film from theroll of film 11 is presented to the user on the presentation member 24within the dispensing opening 20, as shown in FIG. 2. This end portionof the film is adhered to the adhesive element 28 of the presentationmember 24. A user can then grasp the end portion of the film using theirfingers or similar and detach the end portion of the film from thepresentation member 24, draw out a required length of film from the rollof film 11 and detach a section of film 22 of the desired length fromthe roll of film 11 using the cutting blade 30.

After the portion film 22 is cut on the blade 30, a distal edge portionof the remaining portion of the film 22 connected to the roll of film 11generally remains attached to the blade 30. The film 22 then generallyhangs between the roll of film 11 and the blade 30. The lid 16 can thenbe closed and locked in place using the cooperating tabs 25A andopenings 25B. When the lid 16 is moved to the closed position, the filmpresentation member 24 is extended at least partially in front of theroll of film 11 to contact and adhere to the piece of film 22 the rollof film 11 and the blade 30. That end portion of the film is therebyattached to the film presentation member 24 ready for presentationwithin the dispensing opening 20 once the lid 16 is opened once again.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention describedherein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than thosespecifically described. It is understood that the invention includes allsuch variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

Throughout the description and claims of the specification the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises”, is not intended to exclude other additives, components,integers or steps.

1. A film dispenser including a housing configured to receive and hold aroll of film, the housing having a dispensing opening through which asection of film can pass, and a lid movable between an open positionwhere the dispensing opening is open and a closed position in which thedispensing opening is substantially closed, wherein the lid includes afilm presentation member positioned to contact and hold a portion of thefilm when the lid is in the closed position and to present said portionof film within the dispensing opening for grasping when the lid is movedto the open position; the presentation member extending away from thelid and into the dispending opening when the lid is in the openposition; and the presentation member extending away from an innersurface of the lid into and within the housing between the dispensingopening and the roll of film, in a location partially in front of theroll of film when the lid is in the closed position.
 2. A film dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the film presentation member is locatedproximate the dispensing opening.
 3. A film dispenser according to claim2, wherein the film presentation member includes at least one tabprojecting away from the inner surface of the lid.
 4. A film dispenseraccording to claim 3, wherein the at least one tab is an elongate tabrunning lengthwise substantially parallel a longitudinal edge of thehousing that partly defines the dispensing opening.
 5. A film dispenseraccording to claim 4, wherein the elongate tab is formed from at leasttwo planar portions, a first of the at least two planar portionsconnected to the lid and a second of the at least two planar portionsextending at an angle to the first planar portion in a directiongenerally away from the dispensing opening.
 6. A film dispenseraccording to claim 4, wherein the film presentation member holds thefilm by adhesion.
 7. A film dispenser according to claim 6, wherein thefilm presentation member includes an adhesive section for releasablyadhering the portion of film thereto.
 8. A film dispenser according toclaim 7, wherein the adhesive section includes a pressure sensitiveadhesive.
 9. A film dispenser according to claim 1, further including acutting unit including a blade on which a layer of film can be cut, thefilm presentation member being configured to contact and generallyadhere to a portion of the film between the roll of film and the cuttingunit when the lid is in the closed position.
 10. A film dispenseraccording to claim 9, wherein the film presentation member includes anadhesive section for releasably adhering the portion of film theretocomprising a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 11. A film dispenser accordingto claim 9, wherein the blade is located proximate to the dispensingopening.
 12. A film dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the bladeis integrally formed with the housing.
 13. A film dispenser according toclaim 12, wherein the blade is a saw-toothed blade.
 14. A film dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the lid is connected to the housing by ahinge, the axis of the hinge lying substantially parallel to a length ofthe dispensing opening.
 15. A film dispenser according to claim 14,wherein the housing includes at least one moveable side tab forreleasably retaining the roll of film within housing.
 16. A filmdispenser according to claim 14, wherein the lid further includesreleasable locking means including at least one element associated withthe lid and at least one cooperating element associated with the housingproximate the dispensing opening to releasably lock lid in the closedposition.
 17. A film dispenser according to claim 16, wherein releasablelocking means includes a projection and a cooperating opening.
 18. Afilm dispenser including: a housing configured to receive and hold aroll of film, the housing having a dispensing opening through which asection of film can pass, and a lid movable between an open positionwhere the dispensing opening is open and a closed position in which thedispensing opening is substantially closed, wherein the lid includes afilm presentation member which includes at least one tab projecting awayfrom an inner surface of the lid, the tab being positioned to contactand hold a portion of the film by adhesion when the lid is in the closedposition and to present said portion of film within the dispensingopening for grasping when the lid is moved to the open position; thepresentation member extending away from the lid and into the dispensingopening when the lid is in the open position; and the presentationmember extending away from the inner surface of the lid into and withinthe housing between the dispensing opening and the roll of film, in alocation partially in front of the roll of film when the lid is in theclosed position.
 19. A film dispenser according to claim 18, wherein thefilm presentation member includes an adhesive section for releasablyadhering the portion of film thereto comprising a pressure sensitiveadhesive.
 20. A film dispenser including: a housing configured toreceive and hold a roll of film, the housing having a dispensing openingthrough which a section of film can pass, and a lid movable between anopen position where the dispensing opening is open and a closed positionin which the dispensing opening is substantially closed; a filmpresentation member which includes at least one tab projecting away froman inner surface of the lid, the tab being positioned to contact andhold a portion of the film by adhesion when the lid is in the closedposition and to present said portion of film within the dispensingopening for grasping when the lid is moved to the open position, thepresentation member extending away from the lid and into the dispensingopening when the lid is in the open position, and the presentationmember extending away from the inner surface of the lid into and withinthe housing between the dispensing opening and the roll of film, in alocation partially in front of the roll of film when the lid is in theclosed position; and a cutting unit including a blade on which a layerof film can be cut, the film presentation member being configured tocontact and generally adhere to a portion of the film between the rollof film and the cutting unit when the lid is in the closed position.